Argentina Senate approves raids on ex-president's properties

23 August 2018 — 11:39am

Buenos Aires: Argentinian senators have approved a judge's request for authorities to carry out raids on properties owned by former president Cristina Fernandez Kirchner, as part of a case investigating widespread corruption.

Kirchner is currently a senator and was one of the 67 lawmakers who voted unanimously in favour of the motion.

Senator and former president Cristina Kirchner waves as she enters Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.

Photo: AP

The former leader has denied any wrongdoing and had already agreed to the raids with some conditions. She has been accused of being responsible for a corruption scheme involving public works contracts that has ensnared many of former officials and business elite.

The case has dominated headlines in Argentina since it broke out this month following an investigation by the newspaper La Nacion into alleged corruption over more than a decade during the governments of Kirchner and her predecessor and late husband, Nestor Kirchner.

La Nacion says the driver of one of the accused kept notebooks with detailed information on his deliveries of millions in bags of cash paid to former officials in exchange for the granting of public contracts from 2005 to 2015. Kirchner's private address and the presidential residence were allegedly mentioned.

So far, 15 people have been arrested in the case. They include business leaders from construction companies and former officials who served in her 2007-2015 administration.

A demonstrator holds up the Spanish message: "Give back what was stolen!" during a march against former president Cristina Kirchner in Buenos Aires.

Photo: AP

A federal judge had requested raids, including homes in southern Santa Cruz province and an apartment in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires. It was unclear when the raids would take place.

The case has caused outrage in Argentina, prompting thousands to stage a protest on Tuesday demanding the removal of her immunity from prosecution as a senator.